Question:
I have been searched sent through the detalied screening by US customs the last two trips home, they even started up my laptop and looked for illegal materials. I know this is total legal for US Customs to search for illegal software and pornography. I also know that if you were to encrypt the HDD you only make your self look guilty. My Music is on a portable drive, I have no file sharing software installed and the musics MD5 checksums have all been modified by me through Track leveling and ID3 tag management. I have 3000 cd's and 4200 albums, this is where my collection of MP3 was obtained. My physical music collection is at my home, i brought the colection with me for entertainment and to continue the cleanup and organization witch is now complete. This is has been more then two years work to get this collection to be near perfect so I definatly do want to erase it but I don't wanna risk jail time Either!
Answer:
Nope, because songs are intellectual property and can only be punished by those who hold the rights to them (and the MPAA). Cops can see you with illegal MP3s and burned cd's but they can't do anything about it.
Stealing copyrighted material is MUCH different than stealing some clothes or a tv from the store.
You won't get in any trouble.
I don't think so. Then again it could be that the security has tighten it is not impossible to have a large collection of music. But who are you to believe? Again that is the whole point of a MP3 player...Maybe you should ask them if they can arrest you before an MP3 player... Doubt so but who knows!
No, not for just songs.
Honestly I didn't think there was anyone smart enough in customs to check a hard drive! I was surprised by your question even though I live in the U.S. and have actually been searched by customs upon return trips. Nothing invasive other than carry-on luggage.
Glad you asked...glad I read.
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